This Monday. June 29, is the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Apostles who Jesus left in charge of His Church. He appointed Peter to be the first pope, the head of the Church. In particular, He set Peter as leader of the Jewish Christians. Peter also represents, as the first pope, the administrative side of the Church. Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles and is the great missionary. So, he represents the missionary side of the Church. He is also, along with Jesus, the greatest teacher of the early Church.

Wednesday, July 1, is the feast of St. Juniper Serra. He lived in the mid-1700s, and was a Spanish Franciscan missionary, sent to California, where he worked with the Native Americans. He started several parishes in California, including San Juan Capistrano. He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015.

A statue of St. Juniper Serra is in the National Statuary Hall in the Capital Building in Washington, DC.